Addict caught dealing by undercover cop was terrified by higher-up

The County Lines gangster claimed to have just been released from prison after doing time for murder, going on to tell terrified Lee Willett about knife crime incidents in which he had been involved.

Willett was so scared of the tales that spilled from the dealer’s mouth that he the hit made a drug deal for the man – known only as Jamal – rather than wait for the dealer's runner to return.

Unfortunately for 36-year-old Willett the man to whom he had sold two wraps of crack cocaine and one wrap of heroin was an undercover police officer.

That officer, who was posing as an addict, met Willett near the Liden Tesco on August 14. He noted Willett seemed nervous, first complaining the officer had met him in the wrong place and then running away from the scene.

Willett, now of no fixed address, pleaded guilty at the magistrates’ court to supplying heroin and crack cocaine.

Michelle James, for the probation service, said Willett had begun taking cannabis at 10, moving on to heroin when he was 17 before taking to crack cocaine at 26.

He had racked up a significant drugs debt and had lost his flat in Liden after siphoning his housing benefit into paying off the debt. As a result, he now owed the council £3,000 in unpaid rent.

Willett outside Swindon Crown Court 

Willett was said to have had a difficult upbringing and even now was bullied. Ms James feared Willett might not cope well in custody and asked the judge to consider a community order.

After hearing the dealer was making good progress with Turning Point, Judge Peter Crabtree adjourned the case in order to find out more about his engagement with the drugs service.

The case was put off to January 24. Judge Crabtree warned Willett about the likely outcome: “Anyone who is involved in supplying class A drugs is involved in a serious offence where the starting point is clearly custody.”